[imc-alberta] New IMC meeting

[Waldemar Belczowski]

Hello Everybody;

Based on emails, ph conversations and personal meetings that I've had with
people who are expressing a possible interest in a new Alberta Indymedia,
I'm suggesting that we meet on Wednesday the 24th of this month (November
2K4) at 6 pm. The suggested location is at the home of one of our
participants in the Bonny Doone area. That person is a single mom, so
meeting elswehere would cause inconvenience for her (babysitter costs etc.).
If there are others in a similar situation, please tell us so that we can
try to meet everybody's needs as best as possible.

If we do meet at the above location, I am aware that some of us do not live
near there and do not drive; so it would be good if people who are coming
and have transportation could provide a ride to others near them. I myself
am one of those; I live on the North Side and going to that location takes a
good chunk of time. So if someone is travelling from the North Side I would
happily chip in for gas, and I believe there are others on this side of town
as well.
It would be helpful if those intending to come could indicate so as early as
possible, and which area they are coming from, not only to facilitate
transportation but also to give an idea of what sort of gathering we can
expect.
Also if that time and date don't work, please tell us soonest possible so we
can try to work around it.

Now, to the content.
I see two major items to deal with at this meeting (these are my thoughts
only, please feel free to express your own):
1. Producing an Indymedia presence/presentation at the upcoming Alberta
Social Forum (ASF) in Calgary in February; and
2. Using the ASF as a test to determine whether we have the support and
personpower to make this fly (I am betting we do).

RE 1: We need to brainstorm on this.
a: I have an Indy workshop that I prepared for ESPA's North Of Nowhere
Exposition that I think is suitable; it's kind of an Indy 101. Anyone
interested in participating/contributing/evaluating is welcome (providing
that you're not a KOBE-ite or similar).
b: Perhaps videoscreenings of Indy stuf. I have a couple of kick-ass videos
that Indymedia Argentina sent me for the Argentina Indy fundraiser. Also we
have a ton of really good locally produced stuff; so much so that it would
be good if we had a panel to preview and select appropriate samples.

RE 2: With the recent (non)developments re bush, Iraq, charest, martin,
Haiti, Africa, klein (yes, it looks like your friend and mine will win
again; after all who conjugates the media?), I have a strong hunch that
people will gravitiate, perhaps swarm towards Indymedia. Indy and the
Internet have been the *only* significant toe-stubs for the neo-cons in the
wesern hemisphere (along with Ralph Nader and such, to some degree).
Elsewhere in places like Iraq, Korea, South America, Africa and many other
places the peasant fortitude has made advances, in some cases supported by
Indymedia.
Clearly Indy should exist everywhere. A clear proof of Indymedia's worth, of
our viability is evidenced by the u.s attack on Indy servers, fbi and other
continued attacks on Indy operations, and u.s. military strikes at non-u.s.
supporting media enterprises. Indy is the answer.

Isn't it a bit embarassing when people who get shot, bombed and raped  put
out the effort to build Indy; and we, too busy with watching tv sports,
shopping in malls, planning our vacations and polishing our SUVs, don't?


A cheery Sunday greeting to you my Friends,

Regards,


Waldemar Belczowski